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Checkmate in Hot Boat yet?
- Thread starter MERC-MATE
- Start date
Old Hickory
Active member
the website hasn't been updated and couldn't find anything about the article
That is a really nice boat, I really like the things that Doug Smith and company are doing....A buddy who subscribes gave me that issue. It was mostly a positive article, although at the end I remember them squabbling about something on it that was "outdated", but they went on to say that's right in-line with the "retro" label that they (Hot Boat) stuck on it.
That's the way Hot Boat has always been even when Larry Flint owned the magazine. Everything's always outdated in their opinion if it doesn't conform to their norm....got to screw alot of plastic trim on the interior and paint a fire-breathing dragon on the sides of the hull to avoid being called outdated.
-Craig
That's the way Hot Boat has always been even when Larry Flint owned the magazine. Everything's always outdated in their opinion if it doesn't conform to their norm....got to screw alot of plastic trim on the interior and paint a fire-breathing dragon on the sides of the hull to avoid being called outdated.
-Craig
I was really hoping for more in the article and the boat. Checkmate doesn't have many chances to make an impression, especially in HotBoat.
If they send a prototype, it should have been first class. I also agree as being outdated. Checkmate needs to step up to the plate if they are going to charge $156,360 for a boat with OBs that only runs 81.8 mph. Load that boat up ready for the lake and you'll see grandma passing you up out here.
I love my Checkmate and looking for another but dissappointed with their project.
If they send a prototype, it should have been first class. I also agree as being outdated. Checkmate needs to step up to the plate if they are going to charge $156,360 for a boat with OBs that only runs 81.8 mph. Load that boat up ready for the lake and you'll see grandma passing you up out here.
I love my Checkmate and looking for another but dissappointed with their project.
Budman, I totally disagree…If I remember right, it was the dash they were calling “outdated”. And I’ve said it before on this forum, in my opinion, Checkmate is about the only manufacturer left that puts any craftsmanship into the dash. I have never been a fan of bolting/screwing a plastic piece of junk plate to the dash and then mounting the gauges in/on that. The guy who does the tooling for the plugs at Checkmate is by far the best in the business.
Yes, I agree the price is way high, but they always are in those boat mags. You know you could get it for a lot less than that.
Yes, I agree the price is way high, but they always are in those boat mags. You know you could get it for a lot less than that.
cooperider
Well-known member
You should see the dashes on the new BRX, ESPECIALLY the one Wildman ordered.
Who cares what Hot Boat thinks?
I know I don't.
IMO - Hot Boat is an ink-stained rag that is more outdated itself than anything coming out of the Checkmate factory.
The only disappointing aspect to that boat is that we were never sent any pics of it first hand from the factory, so we could show it to everyone. Same deal with the new 2400 BRX pics, we were never sent any pics of it either. We used to get forwarded all kinds of new tidbits and sneak peaks, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I guess we're in the crap house or something.
Oh well. I guess to get your late breaking Checkmate news now, you have to run out and buy an edition of Hot Boat. I guess the 5,000+ unique visitors that we get here every month should be left in the dark. You would think this might be the place where things would get announced first. I guess not anymore.
Anyhoo, luckily Randy posted some pics of it, or we probably wouldn't have even known about the damn thing.
As far as the retro label, it seems to me that everyone comments that Checkmate should update and change stuff and then when they do, a bunch of people are upset they are abandoning their heritage. I think Checkmate should just go slow and keep the good and update the stuff that needs it.
I'd be careful what you wish for gang, you might just get it.
I know I don't.
IMO - Hot Boat is an ink-stained rag that is more outdated itself than anything coming out of the Checkmate factory.
The only disappointing aspect to that boat is that we were never sent any pics of it first hand from the factory, so we could show it to everyone. Same deal with the new 2400 BRX pics, we were never sent any pics of it either. We used to get forwarded all kinds of new tidbits and sneak peaks, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I guess we're in the crap house or something.
Oh well. I guess to get your late breaking Checkmate news now, you have to run out and buy an edition of Hot Boat. I guess the 5,000+ unique visitors that we get here every month should be left in the dark. You would think this might be the place where things would get announced first. I guess not anymore.
Anyhoo, luckily Randy posted some pics of it, or we probably wouldn't have even known about the damn thing.
As far as the retro label, it seems to me that everyone comments that Checkmate should update and change stuff and then when they do, a bunch of people are upset they are abandoning their heritage. I think Checkmate should just go slow and keep the good and update the stuff that needs it.
I'd be careful what you wish for gang, you might just get it.
JUPITER PULSARE
Well-known member
Who cares what Hot Boat thinks?
I know I don't.
IMO - Hot Boat is an ink-stained rag that is more outdated itself than anything coming out of the Checkmate factory.
The only disappointing aspect to that boat is that we were never sent any pics of it first hand from the factory, so we could show it to everyone. Same deal with the new 2400 BRX pics, we were never sent any pics of it either. We used to get forwarded all kinds of new tidbits and sneak peaks, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I guess we're in the crap house or something.
Oh well. I guess to get your late breaking Checkmate news now, you have to run out and buy an edition of Hot Boat. I guess the 5,000+ unique visitors that we get here every month should be left in the dark. You would think this might be the place where things would get announced first. I guess not anymore.
Anyhoo, luckily Randy posted some pics of it, or we probably wouldn't have even known about the damn thing.
As far as the retro label, it seems to me that everyone comments that Checkmate should update and change stuff and then when they do, a bunch of people are upset they are abandoning their heritage. I think Checkmate should just go slow and keep the good and update the stuff that needs it.
I'd be careful what you wish for gang, you might just get it.
Well thought out statement Chris...I also agree. As cool as the new "modern" style pre-assembled anodized gage panels are......it's a real labor of love to have a "craftsman" contort his body into all kinds of positions (for hours) behind a dashboard to install individual gages (into designated holes) and wire them up correctly and neatly. Checkmate's mold work/dashboards reach above and beyond many other manufacturers and in my opinion will never look outdated. Hot Boats original crew of people including the editor were blindsided in a "magazine mutiny". The original crew now head the new magazine Performance Boating.com...maybe they should be contacted and a real, unbiased opinion by real boaters could be written rather that an opinion of people that just want to sell a magazine!....I'm pretty sure Larry Flint publications sold the magazine and left the original crew unemployed!
They didn't specify the dash as being outdated, just the "interior design". I like the dash.
The colors are a little bland and what the heck is on the deck? They need some glossier colors and get a little more creative with the graphics.
quote from Chris;
Who cares what Hot Boat thinks?
I know I don't.
Hot Boat might not always say the right things but people read these articles and go by what is written, good or bad. I was just saying that it's rare to see Checkmate in a Hot Boat mag and the boat should have been ready for a good showing. Attention to detail , snap in carpet, wiring (which wasn't up to par) should have been taken care of.
hotdaddy27
Well-known member
JUPITER PULSARE
Well-known member
If I remember correctly, there was recently an article in PowerBoat magazine on the 100th Checkmate built under the new ownership. The boat was a 230 bow rider. Although the article was a bit vague, it was very positive on the boat, ....it just lacked performance data in the article...but the pictures were great!
Well as far as Hot Boat goes....
Jup hit the nail on the head. I know the background although I didn't get into it, but here you've got a magazine that was in a complete mess for quite a bit. Most of the people from their message board flew the coop and ran over to the Performance Boating site.
So IMO they should worry about running their magazine before they're giving advice to a boat company that has managed to stay around for 45 years. But I guess that's their job and all that. It just seems like the kettle calling the pot black.
As far as the boat goes - my understanding was that the interior was more or less mached up for the test ride/review. That's why it had extra bolsters. So that boat wasn't even really finished up yet. I thought they would have known that and would have cut Mate some slack. I thought this was supposed to be more of a hull performance test of sorts. Not a fit and finish review as the boat wasn't totally finished!
And my understanding was the boat had a McCleod seating set up in it. So these guys are criticizing McCleod for being outdated? I haven't read the article, but if that's what you guys are saying, then whatever.
Here's my worry. Let's face it, Baja sold a lot of boats. More than Checkmate. Which boat would you rather have though?
Now on the rigging side, yeah Mate could have done a bit neater job over the past few years on the wiring and such. But would you rather have a chopper gun hull and neater wiring?
The bottom line here is popularity ain't always the best judge of quality and not necessarily what you want to own. I know a lot of people yacked about having fibreglass inner liners. OK. I see the rationale in that. But look at how many glass inner liners on boats end up cracked. Take a look at how many complaints Baja had with their innerliners. So they aren't perfect either. So wood works pretty damn good, but yes it can rot over time.
My point is that sometimes if it ain't broke you don't fix it. I think Mate should take it slow and move ahead bit by bit and make sure they don't end up fixing one problem and creating two.
As far as why we've been ignored here a bit as of late, I dunno why really. Maybe we're viewed as the old guard or something. Maybe we're the old way and the company is headed somewhere else. I guess we could speculate all day about that part and not really know.
It's odd though.
-Chris
Jup hit the nail on the head. I know the background although I didn't get into it, but here you've got a magazine that was in a complete mess for quite a bit. Most of the people from their message board flew the coop and ran over to the Performance Boating site.
So IMO they should worry about running their magazine before they're giving advice to a boat company that has managed to stay around for 45 years. But I guess that's their job and all that. It just seems like the kettle calling the pot black.
As far as the boat goes - my understanding was that the interior was more or less mached up for the test ride/review. That's why it had extra bolsters. So that boat wasn't even really finished up yet. I thought they would have known that and would have cut Mate some slack. I thought this was supposed to be more of a hull performance test of sorts. Not a fit and finish review as the boat wasn't totally finished!
And my understanding was the boat had a McCleod seating set up in it. So these guys are criticizing McCleod for being outdated? I haven't read the article, but if that's what you guys are saying, then whatever.
Here's my worry. Let's face it, Baja sold a lot of boats. More than Checkmate. Which boat would you rather have though?
Now on the rigging side, yeah Mate could have done a bit neater job over the past few years on the wiring and such. But would you rather have a chopper gun hull and neater wiring?
The bottom line here is popularity ain't always the best judge of quality and not necessarily what you want to own. I know a lot of people yacked about having fibreglass inner liners. OK. I see the rationale in that. But look at how many glass inner liners on boats end up cracked. Take a look at how many complaints Baja had with their innerliners. So they aren't perfect either. So wood works pretty damn good, but yes it can rot over time.
My point is that sometimes if it ain't broke you don't fix it. I think Mate should take it slow and move ahead bit by bit and make sure they don't end up fixing one problem and creating two.
As far as why we've been ignored here a bit as of late, I dunno why really. Maybe we're viewed as the old guard or something. Maybe we're the old way and the company is headed somewhere else. I guess we could speculate all day about that part and not really know.
It's odd though.
-Chris
merc245
Well-known member
My 2 cents, a long time owner.First I can't afford 100,000 for a 25ftr anyway so the best is out off the question.I get what I want out of boating with a Checkmate boat, a fair deal at a fair price.
I've beat on mine like no other on this site, And the only proplems were of my own doings.14 yrs later I still receive the most comments at the ramp or out at the beach.
I've said this before, Growing up there was only one type of boat for me, a Checkmate with a big ol'e merc hanging off it.
Now that said,Any one intrested in a beat up starflite with all the gofast goodies 400 watt kenwood and a virgin carbed 2.5 245 hp. (CHEAP)
ps Not sure how I feel about a 100 boats in a few months.(does bayliner/baja come to mind)
I've beat on mine like no other on this site, And the only proplems were of my own doings.14 yrs later I still receive the most comments at the ramp or out at the beach.
I've said this before, Growing up there was only one type of boat for me, a Checkmate with a big ol'e merc hanging off it.
Now that said,Any one intrested in a beat up starflite with all the gofast goodies 400 watt kenwood and a virgin carbed 2.5 245 hp. (CHEAP)
ps Not sure how I feel about a 100 boats in a few months.(does bayliner/baja come to mind)
I agree on taking it slow....and I really think they are. From what I see, the only things the new ownership has changed so far is the graphics, the McCleod seating, and some other minor things. The model molds all seem to be unchanged except for that new 24BRX.
But like I've always said, they start bolting plastic thingies and tirm on them, or put nonskid chit on the deck, or paintball graphics and stickers, and I'll never buy one again....I really think "they" won't do that. So far the new Owner is doing exactly what he said, which is what the majority of guys (on this board, anyway) wanted to see.
Yeah they could take a little more care/time on the wiring, but I bought 2 boats last year and it took me maybe 2 or 3 hours to tidy it up. Not that big of deal, way better then the wiring most other mfrs do, we're just all real particular on this website and can't let it go as is......So maybe some improvement needed in that area, otherwise I say keep up the good work, Checkmate!
-Craig
But like I've always said, they start bolting plastic thingies and tirm on them, or put nonskid chit on the deck, or paintball graphics and stickers, and I'll never buy one again....I really think "they" won't do that. So far the new Owner is doing exactly what he said, which is what the majority of guys (on this board, anyway) wanted to see.
Yeah they could take a little more care/time on the wiring, but I bought 2 boats last year and it took me maybe 2 or 3 hours to tidy it up. Not that big of deal, way better then the wiring most other mfrs do, we're just all real particular on this website and can't let it go as is......So maybe some improvement needed in that area, otherwise I say keep up the good work, Checkmate!
-Craig